Tyler Wright thrilled with surfing’s Olympic inclusion but will Kelly Slater be too old to compete?

WORLD No. 1 Tyler Wright says it’s “beyond rad’’ surfing will be at the Tokyo Olympics in four years and admits winning in the Games arena is now high on her wishlist.

If surfing was in the Olympics now, world No.1 Tyler Wright would be the gold medal favourite.

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WORLD No. 1 Tyler Wright says it’s “beyond rad’’ surfing will be at the Tokyo Olympics in four years and says winning in the Games arena is now high on her wishlist.

In the wake of snowboarding’s instant success at the Winter Olympics, Wright said she had no doubt surfing would been seen as an appealing Olympic inclusion but is surprised it has made the program in time for her to campaign for in 2020.

“Cool and stoked are a bit of an understatement. This is biggest, raddest thing ever,’’ Wright, who will be just 26 at the next Olympics, told The Daily Telegraph.

“There are so many people who deserve to be viewed on this scale, so many great humans, so many inspirational stories. I’m just stoked. for everyone.’’

Aussie Tyler Wright feted by mass crowds after a win on the Gold Coast earlier this year.

Joining skateboarding, sport climbing, baseball, softball and karate as new additions for the Tokyo Olympics, the shortboard surfing in Japan will be held at Shidashita Beach in Chiba, a 45 minute train ride from Tokyo, with 20 men and 20 women to compete.

The country and athlete breakdown is unknown, as is the competition format.

If it survives as an Olympic sport there is an option to hold competitions in wave pools when required.

There’s a lot of work left,” said President of the International Surfing Association (ISA), Fernando Aguerre. “It’s like the first day you surf a new wave … you need to learn to ride it.”

Wright is adamant surfing will be a big hit with sports fans who will be surprised at the level of fitness, commitment and skill involved in the sport.

Australia's Tyler Wright is hoping to represent Australia at the Tyokyo Olympics.

She also believes that like numerous other sports at the Games, including women’s basketball, football, water polo and swimming, women’s surfing will produce thrilling medal tussles between Australia and US athletes.

Wright, Australia’s leading contender — male or female — for a world surfing crown in 2016, leads Americans Courtney Conlogue, Carissa Moore and Tatiana Weston-Webb on the world surf rankings with fellow Australian Sally Fitzgibbons ranked fifth.

Frenchwoman Joanne Defay and South African Bianca Buitendag are the only non-Australian or American surfers in the top 10.

Reaction to the news flooded social media and surf websites with the most commonly asked question “will Kelly Slater compete?’’.

While Mick Fanning believes he will be “past it’’ and would like to be a coach, the legendary American will be 48 by Tokyo and has already indicated he is keen to compete.

Slater would also be 24 years youngster than the oldest Olympian, Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn who won a silver medal in 1920 when he was 72 years, 281 days old.